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Nigerian Primary schools to teach maths, science in native languages

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has stated
that there are plans for primary schools in the country to teach
mathematics and science subjects in indigenous languages.
Onu said the plan was meant to encourage the application of science and technology in the country.

The minister stated this while addressing pupils of Ekulu Primary School in Enugu, the Enugu State capital.
Onu was at the school to present computer sets and other science kits
donated by the Ministry of Science and Technology to the school.
The problem can be addressed by “popularising” the subjects, he said.
Onu stated, “The Ministry of Science and Technology is worried over
the low interest in mathematics and the science subjects, so, we are
working on plans to teach mathematics and sciences in indigenous
languages in primary schools.

“These pupils grow up with their indigenous languages at home before
they start going to school, where they are now taught in foreign
languages. So, we have observed that there is a challenge to understand
the foreign languages first before they could even start understanding
what they are being taught.
“We believe that this plan will help our students to understand
mathematics and the science subjects, and also promote the application
of science and technology for national development.”
He added that some countries that were making advancement in science
and technology, such as India, adopted a similar strategy by teaching
mathematics and the science subjects in indigenous languages at the
primary school level.
He believed that Nigeria would remain an import-dependent nation if the citizens did not embrace science and technology.

The minister stated, “No nation can become great without science and
technology. If Nigeria is to be great, then, Nigerians must embrace
science and technology.
“You can’t produce anything without science and technology. We are
exporting our jobs by importing everything we need, and that is why our
graduates are no longer able to get jobs after their studies.
“For us to build the country of our dreams, for us to make Nigeria a
truly great nation, a nation that is able to feed and house its
citizens, a nation with a stable currency, we must embrace science and
technology.
“It is my duty as the minister of science and technology to make Nigerians to understand this.”